President William Ruto's choice of Gusii region as the place from which he will be crossing over into the new year is seen as an attempt at courting a region that has remained unhappy since the formation of the broad-based government.
His handlers say the president is keen on consolidating the Nyanza vote bloc, made up of Gusii, Luo Nyanza, and Kuria in an attempt to compensate for the projected loss of votes in Mount Kenya after his fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The region that once had powerful ministers like former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has been restless since Dr Ruto was elected in 2022.
The locals say they feel left out of the government. The Abagusii have backed the candidature of the former premier Raila Odinga in recent presidential elections.
However, they are now angry that Mr Odinga failed to recommend anyone from amongst them to President Ruto for co-option into Cabinet when such an opportunity presented itself and the visit is seen as meant to placate the anger.
Grassroots leaders of Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party in Gusii have expressed their displeasure with the exclusion.
“Let our brothers from Luo Nyanza understand that Nyanza means Kisii, Kuria, and Luo. We cannot have Nyanza in only one part when the broad-based government is being made,” said Kisii Acting ODM Chairman Evance Otegi.
The leaders met to review their standing in the broad-based government and requested Mr Odinga and President Ruto to consider appointing their people into government.
Specifically, they said that the ODM National Treasurer Timothy Bosire is a loyalist of Mr Odinga, and thus deserves a principal secretary position.
“It is not by chance that we are leaders and members of ODM. We deserve to get our rightful share. We are asking Mr Odinga to favour us, his children. It is not fair for opportunities to be granted to Luo Nyanza alone,” said Kisii ODM PLWD Representative Kennedy Nyambega.
"With the support of Central Kenya voters for his reelection in 2027 now elusive following the ouster of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, President Ruto's New Year's Eve event in Kisii is an attempt at consolidating the larger Nyanza region, politically," said Dr Andrew Maubi, a political analyst.
Dr Maubi wants elected leaders from Gusii to unite and pursue development from the national government on their own, instead of doing the "ineffective lone ranger approach" when engaging the president.
"If each leader fights for themselves, then we will keep lagging behind. National leaders thrive in divide and rule, and Gusii Nation has been on the receiving end because of this," said Dr Maubi.
Dr Maubi urged Gusii leaders to unite and have the president deliver the promised Nyamira University, and an airport, amongst other development projects.
"How prepared do leaders (from Gusii) get during their pre-visit meetings? The elected leaders should have a united front," he said.
In his view, leaders uniting to bargain for a share of the national cake would be more effective than waiting for Mr Odinga to do it for them.
Dr Maubi's view converges with that of Solicitor General Shadrack Mose who recently challenged the elected leaders from the region to forge a unity of purpose and bargain for their rightful share in the broad-based arrangement.
“We are currently in an all-inclusive broad-based government under President Ruto. As the Abagusii, my prayer is that we must not sideline ourselves from the government. Let us unite, inculcate harmony and cooperation,” said Mr Mose.
He explained that that is the only way that the Abagusii will be able to reap maximum benefits from the government in terms of development.
Presidents Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and even the founding president Jomo Kenyatta's New Year's addresses to the nation would be done from Mombasa.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba hails from the Gusii region of Nyanza but was a member of the president’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), hence his appointment was not influenced by Mr Odinga.
Mr Ogamba replaced Mr Ezekiel Machogu, who was amongst the CSs fired by the head of state following the Gen Z onslaught in June 2024.
Failure to have any “expert” from the Gusii region in cabinet courtesy of the ODM, has put on the edge Kisii County Governor Simba Arati, who doubles up as an ODM deputy party leader.
The grassroots leaders and locals argue that the deputy party leadership position is not good enough as it has zero impetus on matters of development.
The “experts”, who took up cabinet positions courtesy of Mr Odinga are from Luo Nyanza, Coast, Western, and North Rift, with none from the Abagusii community despite the massive support he (Mr Odinga) enjoyed in that southern part of Nyanza in the last general election.
They were John Mbadi (CS Treasury) and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), both from Luo Nyanza.
Others who were recommended by Mr Odinga were Wycliffe Oparanya (CS SMEs), Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), and Beatrice Askul (CS EAC and ASALs) from Western, Coast, and North Rift, respectively.
All five were from Mr Odinga’s opposition party to which a huge chunk of the Abagusii people too pledged their allegiance.
Some locals opine that the Gusii region is likely to produce President Ruto's challenger in the next election, hence the decision to appease them.
"There are reports that former powerful Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i will be on the ballot against Dr Ruto. Choosing Kisii for the New Year celebrations definitely has expected political outcomes - which is to appease the locals and eventually have the whole of Nyanza to support him," said Mr Joseph Nyantika, a resident of Nyaribari Chache constituency.
Even so, the State New Year - Eve Dinner scheduled for Tuesday evening at the Kisii State Lodge met major opposition Tuesday morning, with the outspoken Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka declining an invitation over the ongoing abductions in the country.
"... because of my deeply held views on these issues, I will not be attending the State New Year - Eve Dinner in my capacity as the Senator of Kisii County. I therefore decline the invitation," Mr Onyonka said in a press release.
Mr Onyonka said that it is ridiculous to be normal, happy, and excited with colour and pomp when other Kenyan families are agonising in pain over the disappearance of their loved ones.
The venue of the New Year's Eve event is also the home of Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga who on Monday issued a terse statement terming President Ruto's administration as "uncaring" to the plight of the people.
In the statement, Mr Maraga dared the government of Dr Ruto that any government official in contravention of the constitutional order will face justice in 2025.
Apart from Mr Odinga’s “experts”, the president has also appointed allies of his predecessor Uhuru into the cabinet. They include William Kabogo, Lee Kinyanjui and Mutahi Kagwe.
